Having previously directed Oakland’s Planning Department to return with findings to support a denial of the proposed 460-foot-tall tower to rise at 1261 Harrison Street, on the historic King Block in Downtown Oakland, the City’s Planning Commission is expected to formally deny the development’s application to proceed on Wednesday.

That being said, we’ve been told the development team has been working on a new approach/plan. We’ll keep you posted and plugged-in.

14 thoughts on “Commission Slated to Condemn Plans for Oakland Tower”
  1. “That being said, we’ve been told the development team has been working on a new approach/plan”

    Oh please, please, please! w/ sprinkles (and a small conifer) on top – may it be that they’re buying up one of those undernourished, underperforming development sites like
    14th/Alice or 7th/Harrison.

    Either that or assuming the city’s $860M – and growing…rapidly – unfunded retirement liability.

    1. Agreed. The building is hideous. Regarding development sites, why choose a block with a series of intact early 20th century structures of historical merit? There are dozens of parking lots and derelict midcentury buildings in this area that would be prime candidates for replacement with new construction.

        1. Everett, no, the buildings they want to demolish are a nice group of early 20th century commercial buildings currently occupied by several multicultural tenants including a Chinese bakery and a Buddhist temple, among others. Yes, they could benefit from graffiti removal and a clean but they are in good condition otherwise.

  2. Oakland should be proud. It is no small feat to outdo San Francisco in Kafkaesque bureaucracy. But somehow they always manage to snatch graffiti covered “history” out the jaws of a new skyscraper – or stadium.

    1. I think you’re confusing “(the City of) Oakland” with the Peralta Board … same church, perhaps, but a different pew. But the looks like the latter will have a chance to defend its decision all over again.

  3. I think Oakland should be happy to have ANY development happen. 10 years into this run and we’re only now seeing cranes in downtown Oakland.

    Whether you’re a fan or not of the design I think everyone will agree that its an improvement over what was there.

        1. I believe s/he’s differing with your first statement, not your second: cranes have been up for several years, as there are a number of projects that are almost finished (Uptown Station, for example, was begun almost 4 years ago…although AFAIK it doesn’t utilize a crane, so I guess you’re technically correct there).

          As for your second point, it’s tautologically incorrect, insofar as the whole point of this thread is that at least a few people – actually the ones who matter – DO NOT agree it would be an improvement.

    1. I liked the plans for the new building…very much an improvement of what is currently there and it is close to public transit. I happy to see Oakland finally building and hope it continues.

  4. I liked the plans for the new building…very much an improvement of what is currently there and it is close to public transit. I happy to see Oakland finally building and hope it continues.

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